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VERPLANCK, N.Y. -- For 95 years, the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has been a celebration of Italian heritage in Verplanck.

The annual feast was held in July, having been held every summer in 1922, organized by people who came to Verplanck from Calabria, Italy. It is always held the third weekend of July.

"We have members that have roots that go back to our founders," Joe Cosentino, who helped organize the event, said. "Their hearts are definitely into it. Their ancestors started this club and we like to keep it going.

The event always concludes with a procession carrying the Our Lady of Mount Carmel through the streets and then a fireworks display.

"It allows people to go home happy and they start looking forward to next year's festival," Cosentino said.

The event features traditional Italian cuisine like sausage and peppers, and patrons love to dine on the zeppoles. Cosentino said he loves seeing the kids enjoy themselves on the rides and games or getting their face painted.

Cosentino's grandfather immigrated to Verplanck, building his own home in 1927, which his mother still resides in.